Switch.



G. W'. HART.

SWITCH.

APPLIUATION FILED JULY 7, 1910.

Patented Sept. 2, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

l/Vi inc-0005 1 fl z /kr COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH CD.,WASHINGTON, D. c.

G. W. HART.

SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 7, 1910.

Patented Sept. 2, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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UNITED srarns Parana: OFFICE.

GERALD W. HART, OF WEST HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE HART MAN- UFACTURING COMPANY, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, A. CORPORATION OF NEW J ERSEY.

SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 2, 1913.

Application filedJuly 7, 1910. Serial No. 570,893.

To all "LF/I-OHL it may concern Be it known that I, GERALD \V. HART, a citizen of the United States, residing at est Hartford, Hartford county, State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switches, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to improvements in switches, and has for its object to produce an eilicient remote controlled switch having an easily actuated detent.

It further has for its object to produce a remote controlled switch having a detentin which the controlling circuit shall be interrupted only after said detent is released.

It further has for its object to produce a remote controlled switch in which the switch shall be closed by a solenoid whose circuit is interrupted only after said switch is fully closed.

It further has for its object to produce a remote controlled switch in which the closing circuit shall be closed upon the releasing of a detent which permits the switch to open.

It further has for its objectto produce a remote controlled switch in which a detentreleasing circuit is closed at supplemental contacts by the closing of said switch and a switch closing circuit is completed at inclependent supplemental contacts on releasing said detent.

The following is a description of an embodiment of my invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a plan view of the switch. Fig. 2 represents a longitudinal section of the same on the line 00-w Fig. 1. Fig. 3 represents an end view of the switch. Fig. 1 shows a sectional view of the detent mechanism and one pair of local circuit contacts when the switch is in open position. Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the two sets of supplemental contacts controlling the local circuits. Fig. (l is a downward plan view of the detent-releasing armature and the local circuit supplemental contact-carrying member. Fig. 7 is a diagram of circuits.

Referring more particularly to the drawings. 1 is a base on which is mounted an iron casting 2. to which are secured the switch closing solenoids 3-3, lVithin these solenoids are cores -li acted upon by springs 55, which normally tend to raise the cores and lift the switch.

6 is a connection bar connected to the cores 44 and carrying three switch arms 7 adapted to engage with contacts S8 on the base 1 and properly insulated from the bar 6.

-99 are screws secured to an iron plate 10 above the solenoids 3-3 and acting to guide the bar (5 and limit its upward 'motion.

Between the solenoids 8-3 is a solenoid 11 having a stationary core 12 secured to the plate 10. This core 12 has an annular groove or recess 12 adapted to partially receive balls 1% and constitutes a stationary abutment for the purpose hereinafter described. These balls 14;, when the parts are in one position, are forced into the recesses 13 by a movable abutment 15, which is cut away at its lower portion so as to form a recess 15 (Fig. 1) into which said balls 1 1 can move when free to do so.

16 is an intermediate member lying between the stationary abutment 12 and the movable abutment 15 and having holes for the balls 14:. The thickness of the wall of the intermediate member is slightly more than one-half the diameter of the ball 141, and the depths of the recesses 13 and 15 are slightly less than one-half of said diameter. 17 is a spring whose upper end is fixed relatively to the intermediate member 16 and whose lower end bears upon a collar 18 carried by said movable abutment 15. If when the switch is in closed position, as shown in Fig. 2. the movable abutment 15 is moved upward against the action of the spring 17, the springs 5 act to raise the bar 6, together with the switch arms, and the' intermediate member 16. The effect of this is to force the balls 11 out of the recess 13 into the recess 15 at the end of the lower end of the movable abutment 15, thus releasing the intermediate member 16 and the parts connected thereto from the stationary abutment 12 so that they are free to move upward. \Vhen the parts are in open position, as shown in Fig. 1, and the bar 6 is moved downward so as to close the switch, the balls 14, when they reach the recess 13 of the stationary abutment, are the action of the movable abutment 15, due to its spring 17, forced into the recess 13, the movable abutment then passing downward to the position shown in Fig. 2. The intermediate member 16 and the parts connected thereto are thus held in depressed position until the movable abutment 15 is again. raised so as to bring its recess opposite the balls 14:.

In order to lift the movable abutment 15 electrically, I provide an armature 19 having within it, in the embodiment shown, a core 20 of insulating material. A spring 21 bears against this core and tends to raise it and the armature 19 so as to keep the core 20 in contact with the lower end of the movable abutment 15. VVit-h the parts as shown in Fig. 2, when the solenoid 11 is energized, the armature 19, together with its core 20, is lifted thereby so as to cause the movable abutment 15 to be raised until its recess 15' comes opposite the balls 14, whereupon the springs 5 5 lift the switch arms, together with the intermediate member 16, balls 1% and the movable abutment 15. The switch is closed by energizing the solenoids 3 3, and, as above stated, thereupon the bar 6 is thus moved downward so as to cause the switch arms 7 to make engagement with the contacts 8 8, which occurs when the balls 14 reach the recess 18, whereupon the movable plunger 15 forces the balls 14 into those recesses and causes them to hold the switch in closed position.

In order to produce supplemental breaks in the local circuits for energizing the solenoids 3-3', I secure to an insulating disk 22 located below the solenoid 11, contacts 2323, and secure to the insulating core 20 contacts 2424, which are electrically connected together by the conductor \Vhen the armature 19 is in elevated position on account of the action of the spring 21, the contacts 242at are brought into engagement with the contacts 2323, thus closing the local circuit for the solenoids 3-8 by a supplemental circuit -controlling device. \Vhen the switch is closed, a downward movement of the movable abutment 15, due to its spring 17, overcomes the spring 21 so as to separate the contacts 242t from the contacts 2323, and open this local circuit. This movement of the contacts 2424E due to the solenoids 33 and the plunger 15, takes place after the switch arms have completed their full closing throw and after the switch is completely closed. The contacts 23-23 are also provided with the binding posts 28 to which the circuit for controlling the solenoids 33 are connected.

In order to control the circuit through the solenoid 11 by a supplemental circuit controller, I mount upon the ring 22 two springs 2626, which carry at their upper ends conductors 27-27 projecting upward loosely through the core 20, and on the lower end of the intermediate member 16 provide a metallic projection 28 insulated from said intermediate member. When the switch is in closed position, the metallic projection 28 engages the tops of the upwardly projecting rods 27 so as to electrically connect them. The terminals of the circuit in. which the solenoid 11 is located are connected by binding screws 26 to the springs 2626, so that that circuit is broken whenever the intermediate member is raised and is completed at that point whenever the intermediate member is moved so as to close the switch. It is broken only after the detent is fully released from the stationary abutment.

One of the springs 26 and one of the contacts 23 may be connected by a conductor 29 so as to be connected by a common lead to one pole of the source of current. Local manually operable controlling contacts 30' and 31 are provided for each of the two controlling circuits, as shown in the diagram, Fig. 7, which. shows the preferable arrangement of circuits. The arrangement as shown is for a three-wire system, the outside mains connected to the source of current being indicated by plus and minus signs and the load being indicated by the lamps 8232.

The stationary core 12, which constitutes the stationary abutment, is of iron and increases the magnetic efficiency of the solenoid 11. In order to still further increase the magnetic efiiciency of this solenoid. I provide magnetic plates 3333 abutting the iron plate 10 and connected to a magnetic face plate 34 so as to form a substantially iron-clad solenoid. The solenoids 3-3 are also surrounded with magnetic sheaths 3535, so as to make them iron-clad.

The operation of the device is as follows: hen the switch is in closed position, the contacts 2727 are engaged by the conducting member 28 so as to bridge the gap between them. If then the contacts 31 are brought into engagement, a current flows through the solenoid 11, energizing the same so as to lift the armature 19 from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 4. As this armature is lifted, its core lifts the movable abutment 15 until its recess 15* comes opposite the balls 14, whereupon the springs 5 tend to lift the switch arms, together with the bar 6 and the inter mediate member 16 connected thereto, forcing the balls 14 to move out of the recess 13 and into the recess 15 of the movable abutment, whereupon the springs 55 complete the opening movement of the switch. The intermediate member 16 does not begin to move until the movable abutment 15 has completed its upward movement and the solenoid 11 has therefore completed its work upon the armature 19. After such com.- pletion the intermediate member with its conducting member 28 is lifted by the springs 55, so as to disconnect the contacts 2727 and locally open the controlling circuit of the solenoid 11, the action being a quick action due to the springs 55. After the movable abutment has reached its uppermost position and the intermediate member 16 has moved upward, the insulating core 20, together with the arinat n'e 19, is caused to follow after by the action of the spring 21 and is lifted sufliciently so that the contacts 242 t engage the contacts 23 23, thus locally completing the circuit through the soleno ds 33', as shown n Fig. 4. hen it s desired to close the switch, the contacts 2323, being now electrically connected by engagement therewith of the contacts 2a2i, the contacts 30 are brought into engagement, whereupon the solenoids 3-3 are energized, drawing down the cores t-4' so as to close the switch. hen the switch is fully closed, the balls let are opposite the recess 13, whereupon the movable plunger 15 is forced downward by the action of its spring 17 forcing the balls 14 into the recess 13 and locking them in that position, and at the same time pushing downward the armature 19 and its core 20 against the action of the spring 21 so as to locally interrupt the controlling circuit of the solenoids 33' by the quick separation of the contacts 24-24 from the contacts 23-23, which disengagement takes place after the switch fully closed. The same downward movement of the intermediate member 16 brings the contacting member 28 into engagement With the terminals 2727, thus establishing locally the circuit through the solenoid 11, so that it will act as before described when the contacts 31 are brought into engagement.

From the foregoing it will be seen that each controlling circuit is interrupted only after it has fully completed its work, the one of releasing the detent and the other of closing the switch. The interruptions also are quickly made, that is, with a snap action. The detent is remarkably tree -t'rom friction and'is easily released so that its action is positive and certain.

\Vhile I prefer the particular form of detent shown, it is not necessarily essential to the carrying out of valuable features of my invention consisting in having the controlling circuits locally interrupted after they have fully completed their work.

Various modifications such as would readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention or the subject matter claimed below.

\Vhat I claim is:

1. In a switch, the combination of a stationary switch contact, a switch arm normally tending to move away from said con tact, a switch closing solenoid adapted when energized to move said switch arm toward said contact, a controlling circuit for said solenoid, a detent moving with said switch arm and adapted to hold said switch arm in closed position, a detent releasing solenoid, a detentreleasing armature therefor movable relatively to said detent, a spring tending to move said armature toward detent releasing position when said switch is closed, a controlling circuit for said releasing solenoid, controlling contacts in said first mentioned circuit brought into engagement by the movement of said armature under the action of said spring upon the re lease of said detent, and disengaged after said switch is fully closed by the action of the said first solenoid.

2. In a switch, the combination of a stationary switch contact, a switch arm nor mally tending to move away from said contact, a switch closing solenoid adapted when energized to move said switch arm toward said contact, a controlling circuit for said solenoid, a detent moving with said switch arm and adapted to hold said switch arm in closed position, a detent releasing solenoid, a detent releasing armature therefor movable relatively to said detent, a spring tending to move said armature toward detent releasing position when said switch is closed, a controlling circuit for said releasing solenoid, controlling contacts in said first mentioned circuit brought into engagement by the movement of said armature under the action of said spring upon the release of said detent, and disengaged after said switch is fully closed by the action of said first solenoid, and an additional circuit controller for said second circuit closed by the action of said first solenoid and opened by the action of said second solenoid as said detent is released.

3. In a switch, the combination of staable abutment, tending to move said movable abutment relatively to said intermediate member, and a solenoid which when energized moves said movable abutment against the action of its spring.

at. In a switch, the combination of stationary switch contacts, a. switch arm normally tending to move away from said contacts, a stationary abutment having a recess, a movable abutment having a recess, an intermediate member connected to said itch arm, a detent carried by said intermediate member and adapted to partially enter the recesses in said abutments, a spring engaging said intermediate member and said movable abutment, tending to move said movable abutment relatively to said in termediate member, a solenoid, and an armature therefor movable relatively to said movable abutment and adapted to engage and move the same against the action of its spring when said solenoid is energized.

5. In a switch, the combination of stationary switch contacts, a switch arm normally tending to move away from said contacts, a stationary abutment having a recess, a movable abutment having a recess, an intermediate member connected to said switch arm, a detent carried by said intermediate member and adapted to partially enter the recesses in said abutments, a spring engaging said intermediate member and said movable abutment, tending to move said movable abutment relatively to said intermediate member, a solenoid, an armature for said solenoid movable relatively to said movable abutment and adapted to engage and move the same against the action of its spring when said solenoid is energized, contacts carried by said armature and adapted to engage stationary controlling contacts, and a spring moving said armature when said switch is open so that said engagement is made, andv an energizing circuit .tor said solenoid controlled by said controlling contacts. 6. In a switch, the combination of stationary switch contacts, a switch arm normally tending to move away from said contacts, a stationary abutment having a recess, a movable abutment having a recess, an interme diate member connected to said switch arm and moving therewith, a detent carriedby said intermediate member and adapted to partially enter said recesses in said abut- -ments, a spring engaging said intermediate member and said movable abutment, and tending to move said movable abutment relatively to said intermediate member, a detent releasing solenoid, an armature there for movable relatively to said movable abutment and adapted to engage and move the same against the action of its spring when said solenoid is energized, stationary contacts, a contact connecting member moving with said intermediate member into and out of engagement with said stationary contacts when said switch is closed and opened respectively, an energizing circuit for said solenoid controlled by said contacts, other contacts carried by said armature, additional stationary contacts engaged and disengaged by said other contacts, a spring moving said armature as said switch opens so that said other contacts carried thereby make engagement with said additional sta tionary contacts, a second circuit controlled by said other and additional contacts, and a switch closing solenoid in said second circuit and manually operated circuit controllers for both of said circuits.

roams? T. In a switch, the combination of stationary switch contacts, a switch arm normally tending to move away from said con tacts, a stationary abutment having a recess, a movable abutment having a recess, an intermediate member connected to said switch arm and moving therewith, a detent carried by said intermediate member and adapted to partially enter the recesses in said abutments, a spring engaging said intermediate member and said movable abutment and tending tomove said movable abutment in the opposite direction from that in which said intermediate member and switch arm tend to move, a solenoid which when energized moves said movable abutment against the action of the spring, stationary controlling contacts engaged by said intermediate member when said switch is closed, and a circuit for said solenoid con trolled by said controlling contacts.

8. In a switch, the combination of stationary switch contacts, a switch arm normally tending to move away from said contacts, a stationary abutment having a recess, a movable abutment having a recess, an intermediate member connected to said switch arm and moving therewith, a detent carried by said intermediate member and adapted to partially enter the recesses in said abut-- ments, a spring engaging said intermediate member and said movable abutment and tending to move said movable abutment in the opposite direct-ion from that in which said intermediate member and switch. arm

tend to move, a solenoid, an armature therefor movable relatively to said movable abutment and adapted to engage and move the same against the action of its spring when said solenoid is energized, contacts carried by said armature and adapted to engage stationary controlling contacts, and a spring moving said armature when said switch is open so that said engagement is made, and a circuit controlled by said controlling contacts.

9. In a switch, the combination of stationary switch contacts, a switch arm normally tending to move away from said contacts, a stationary abutment having a recess, a movable abutment having a recess, an intermediate member connected to said switch arm and moving therewith, a detent carried by said intermediate member and adapted to partially enter the recesses in said abutments, a spring engaging said intermediate member and said movable abutment and tending to move said movable abutment in the opposite direction from that in which said intermediate member and switch arm tend to move, a detent-releasing solenoid, an armature therefor movable relatively to said movable abutment and adapted to engage and move the same against the action of its spring when said solenoid is energized, contacts carried by said armature and adapted to engage stationary controlling contacts, a spring moving said armature when said switch is open so that said engagement is made, a circuit controlled by said controlling contacts, a switch-closing solenoid in said circuit, additional stationary controlling contacts engaged by said intermediate member when said switch is closed, and an additional circuit controlled by said stationary contacts, said detent-releasing solenoid being in said additional circuit.

10. In a switch, the combination of stationary switch contacts, a switch arm normally tending to move away from said contacts, a stationary abutment having a recess, a movable abutment having a recess, an intermediate member connected to said switch arm and moving therewith, a detent carried by said intermediate member and adapted to partially enter the recesses in said abutments, a spring engaging said intermediate member and said movable abutment and tending to move said movable abut-ment in the opposite direction from that in which said intermediate member and switch arm tend to move, and a solenoid which when energized moves said movable abutment against the action of its spring.

11. In a switch, the combination of a stationary abutment having a recess, a movable abutment having a recess, an intermediate member tending to move in one direction, a detent carried by said intermediate member and adapted to partially enter the recesses in said abutments, a spring engaging said intermediate member and movable abutment and tending to move the movable abutment in the opposite direction to that in which said intermediate member tends to move.

12. In a switch, the combination of a stationary abutment having a recess, a movable abutment cut away at one end to form a recess, an intermediate member surrounding said movable abutment and tending to move in one direction, a detent carried by said intermediate member and adapted to partially enter said recesses alternately, and a spring engaging said movable abutment and said intermediate member and tending to move said movable abutment relatively to said intermediate member in the opposite direction from that in which said intermediate member tends to move.

GERALD V. HART.

Witnesses Gr. E. PALMER, H. B. BROWNELL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

